Re: Groping toward the future: facing both ways.

nate (schmolze who-is-at students.wisc.edu)
Thu, 7 Jan 1999 06:51:44 -0600

>I guess my western Canada ears picked up on a subtle, but
important
>distinction in this anecdote. i respond here, knowing that no
disrespect
>was intended.

This was a recollection from memory and the scholar most likely
referred to First Nations in contrast to First American. An
interesting dialemna in education, in Wisconsin, is the term
"indian" is gaining popularity as a general term from the
perspective of our first nations. The irony is easily seen in
that we teach our children that the "correct" term is Native
American, but the various nations refer to them selves as
indian. The general term appears to be a dynamic term that is
always changing, but as you pointed out what is consistant is
that when ever possible to refer to Native people by their
nation name.

Nate

>
>in BC, Canada we are learning to be careful to call "first
American" people
>"First Nations " or refer to the actual nation of the
eople, - although
>these terms are still under discussion - just as we say,
French, Swiss,
>Italian, etc. it's a steep new learning curve about a subtle
distinction
>about origins and place - since "america" is a recent
socio/cultural
>geographical invention, temporally speaking, probably not
pre-dating the
>obligatory seven generations refered to by the elder. also in
some parts
>of Canada - with a more recent colonial history, particularly
the NWT and
>more locally for me, in BC, - First Nation's people are
sovereign nations
>in their own territories becaue they never ceded their lands
through
>treaties. (Right now BC's provincial legislative assembly is
currently in
>the process of ratifying the Nisga'a treaty which has been in
active
>dispute since 1887. Nisga'a have lived int their traditional
lands for
>upwards of 6000 years, and we are facing similar treaty
negotitions with 49
>First nations groups in B.C.)

>When we have first NAtions scholars address our University
(located in
>British Columbia) - we sometimes participate in a ritual
greeting which
>acknowledges territorial boundaries of the soverign nation
whose land we
>are occupying ( in the case of Simon Fraser university it is
located within
>the territory of the Burrard people). The person addressing us
makes note
>of their nation - and respectfully acknowledges that they are
now in the
>territory of the Burrard people.
>
>Tricky stuff our colonial hangover. Our country is now facing
a new
>relationship with First nations people, and we will enter the
new
>Millenium in a re-negotiated status. Lots of angst - lots of
possibilties
>- lots of learning.
>
>
>kathryn ( a paltry second generation irish/scot canadian)
>
>
>"science does not vanquish mystery" Annie Dillard "Pilgrim at
Tinker Creek"
>
>*****************************
>Kathryn Alexander, email ...... kalexand who-is-at sfu.ca
>Doctoral Candidate, FAX .........(604) 291 - 3203
>Faculty of Education, SFU(message).....(604) 291- 3395
>Simon Fraser University,
>Burnaby, B.C. V5A 1S6
>
>